https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition2015-03-31T18:26:39.340ZPosts of CURRENT EVENTSGoogle Sites1https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition/4764302100765314202015-03-19T17:14:57.304Z2015-03-19T17:14:57.306Z2015-03-19T17:14:57.300ZOpportunity to Attend Flint Hills Grazing School, May 2015

Keith Long, Graze-the-Prairie, and Jim Gerrish, internationally-known grazinglnads consultant, will put on a 3-day Flint Hills Grazing School, May 27-30, at Andover, KS. The School will feature classroom and in-the-field instruction. See the flyer below for more details. Contact Linda Pectin-Long at 316-322-0536, linda.grazetheprairie@gmail.com for more details.

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalitionkansas.grazing.lands@gmail.comopportunitytoattendflinthillsgrazingschoolmay20151https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition/13545433105592697172015-03-19T17:07:40.100Z2015-03-19T17:07:40.103Z2015-03-19T17:07:40.094Z2015 Burn Season is Well Under Way

Smoke has been filling the air as prescribed fire season kicked off in late February and March. Favorable soil moisture conditions (although marginal in places), good fuel loads and good weather including low winds and humidity are helping those ranchers who have planned carefully to conduct their prescribed burns successfully.

A newly organized prescribed burning association in southern Kansas, the Cherokee Strip PBA, conducted their first solo burn recently. This comes after having help on a few previous fires from the Red Hills PBA group.

For more information on planning and conducting your prescribed fire (one you have already planned for) check with www.ksfire.org for weather conditions and forecasting to determine the smoke effects your fire might create. and, you can always find out more about prescribed fire under our KGLC's KANSAS PRAIRIE PRIMER section of our web site.

The Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition had a very busy and productive year in 2014. The Coalition received its 501.c.3 non-profit tax status from the Internal Revenue Service in March. This sets KGLC up to do even more with the ability to raise funding that has not been available to date. Look for more to come on new opportunities to support KGLC and receive a tax deductible credit.

KGLC also initiated a planning process to develop a new Long-Range Strategy (2015-2020) with a three-day retreat and meeting at the Noble Foundation, Ardmore OK, in September/October.

KGLC applied for and received a grant in May from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a tri-national organization that represents Canada, Mexico and the United States. The great promotes education and implementation of pilot projects that showcase technology to protect, enhance and maintain grasslands (grazing lands used by cattle). To date, five of the six pilot projects in the state have been completed with some great stories that will be shared so look for more on this to come as well. Read on for the 2015 Range Schools and other happenings with KGLC in the Clippings below.

Scott Marsh, KS Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weeds, Topeka has more information specific to Kansas, if you have questions. Contact him at scott.marsh@kda.ks.gov. Scott is a Board of Directors member of the Tamarisk Coalition and serves on KGLC's Advisory Committee.

Excerpts from the Tamarisk Coalition brochure...

If you don't know anything about this highly invasive plant also known as salt cedar, check out the brochure below or click on the web link.

What is Tamarisk?

Tamarisk, or saltcedar, (Tamarix spp.) is an invasive woody tree native to Asia. It was originally brought to North America for erosion control, but has taken the place of native trees and shrubs, like cottonwood, aspen, gamble oak, willow, and mesquite and now infests rivers, streams, wetlands, reservoirs, and springs across the West. Dense stands of tamarisk can block access to rivers and dominate riverside habitat – areas which support a range of native plant materials and other important cultural resources. Tamarisk can be poor habitat for many types of wildlife, poor forage for livestock, can increase

soil salinity and wildfire severity and can be costly to control. Tamarisk is considered to be a high priority noxious weed in many areas through out western United States. Public support for tamarisk control has increased over the past decade and Public Law 109320: Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act was passed by Congress in 2006 garnering federal and state support for control projects.

A Biological Control for Tamarisk

Mechanical and chemical control methods are commonly used to manage tamarisk but may have limited applicability due to landowner goals, site accessibility, size of the tamarisk stands, expense, and other factors. Biological control, or biocontrol, is another management tool being used to control tamarisk. Biocontrol is the introduction of an insect or other “natural

enemy” that predates the invasive plant of concern. The insect selected for the control of tamarisk, called the tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabdaspp.), was tested by the US Department of Agriculture for over 10 years to ensure that it would be effective, and would not feed on native plants or crops here in the western United States. The beetle was first released in 2001, and can now be found throughout the Colorado Plateau and Texas. Although the tamarisk leaf beetle will not singlehandedly eliminate tamarisk, the goal is to help control the spread of tamarisk by reducing its reproductive viability, consequently giving native plants a chance to recover.

Tamarisk Coalition website:

www.tamariskcoalition.org

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalitionkansas.grazing.lands@gmail.comtamariskbeetle-biologicalcontrolupdate2https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition/22978760271590530352015-02-16T19:43:25.323Z2015-02-16T19:43:25.326Z2015-02-16T19:43:25.308ZPrescribed Fire Training Scheduled for February and March

A series of one-day workshops on basic prescribed fire training as well as prescribed fire burn plan writing training is set for the next 30 days. There will be other trading coming later this spring and summer, so look for that information to come as it is firmed up. you can choose from a number of dates and locations to attend training, so all you need to do is to contact the person referenced from the list below to get registered. Dates noted are for February unless marked as 3/? which is March. Be sure to note the start times as they do vary.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, in conjunction with the Kanas Prescribed Fire Council, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, Pratt County Conservation District, and K-State Research and Extension, is hosting a prescribed fire workshop focusing on reasons to burn CRP and rangeland, weather conditions for safe burning, and ways to reduce the risk of fire escapes. The workshop will be held at the Pratt County Fairgrounds 4-H Center on Wednesday, February 25th. Registration cost for the workshop is $10 per person. This will be due the day of the workshop and will be payable by cash or check.

Check in for the workshop will begin at 9:30 AM and presentations will start at 10:00 AM. The training will last approximately four hours, and lunch will be provided—courtesy of the Pratt County Conservation District, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Forever. Presentations will cover reasons to burn and prescribed burning’s effect on wildlife, safe weather in which to conduct a burn, a preview of 2015 fire season forecasts by the National Weather Service, burning equipment, regulations, liability issues, and more. The workshop will also offer participants a chance to discuss the best ways to burn their properties with trained burn planning professionals.

To register or request more information, please contact Zac Eddy with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever or Mark Ploger with K-State Research and Extension. Zac can be reached at 620-338-7132 or zeddy@pheasantsforever.org. Mark can be reached at 620-672-6121 or mploger@ksu.edu. Please be sure to RSVP by February 20th, and let them know if you require any special accommodations. This will allow planners to prepare enough meals and ensure that handout materials are available for all attendees. The workshop will take place in the Pratt County Fairgrounds 4-H Center at 81 Lake Road, Pratt, Kansas.

No-till on the Plains, Inc. will host a no-till field day for producers to gain a better understanding of the importance of soil health by utilizing continuous no-till cropping systems and cover crops. Members of the media and the general public are also invited. This event is being sponsored by the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, the Marion Reservoir WRAPS project and the Marion county Farm Bureau Association. No-till on the Plains is pleased to offer this high-quality educational event to all interested producers.

The Whirlwind No-till Expo will take place on Monday November 3, beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the Marion Community Center, 203 N. 3td St.. The day will begin with a Rainfall Simulator demonstration followed by a tour of local fields utilizing various cover crops. The highlight of the morning features a soil pit where participants can examine soil characteristics in both long-term no-till and conventional till environments. Lunch will be provided at the Marion Community Center, followed by a full afternoon of knowledgeable speakers. A $20 registration fee is required for attendance.

Cattlemen and producers are invited to the Fall Forage Tour, Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, 2014. The tour will begin at 1:00 p.m. on both days at the Dale Strickler Farm, one mile south of Courtland on the west side of the highway.

Two audiences will benefit from participation in the Fall Forage Tour-cattle producers and those interested in utilizing cover crops to improve soil health. The tour will focus on improving soil productivity through the use of cover crops, forages, and perennial grasses.

If you've ever been on one of Dale's tours or heard him speak on cover crops, you know this is don't miss opportunity!

Join your neighbors and others interested in grazing cover crops, learning more about the economics of alternative forages, prairie pollinators, year-end pasture forage assessments, and low-stress livestock handling. The day begins at 2:00 and ends by 6:00 at the Dalebanks Angus Sale Facility. Call 620-583-5544 for more information and to register.

Eleven Kansas farmers and ranchers recognized for saving water and energy in agriculture.

Hutchinson, KS— Water + Energy Progress identifies successful innovations in energy efficiency and water conservation on Kansas farms and ranches. The 2014 awards recognize producers across the state for implementing innovations that save water and energy including: patch burn grazing, subsurface drip irrigation, cover crops and no-till, intensive rotational grazing, solar powered water pumps and fencing, small-scale wind, and local foods. Water + Energy Progress highlights homegrown solutions for water conservation and energy efficiency from the farmers and ranchers of Kansas.

2014 Water + Energy Progress Award Winners include:

·Lucinda Stuenkel, Palmer

·Michael Hermann, Kinsley

·Mark Eitel, Dighton

·McCarty Dairy, Rexford

·Jane Koger, Matfield Green

·Darin Williams, Waverly

·John Bradley, Lawrence

·Karen and John Pendleton, Lawrence

·Bill Sproul, Sedan

·Shannon Creek Cattle & Quarter Horse Company, Olsburg

·Living Acres Network, Gove county

Each award winner will be interviewed for monthly case studies featuring their water and energy saving practices. Each case study will be available at www.WaterAndEnergyProgress.org.

Water + Energy Progress Awards are determined by a steering committee made up of water, energy, agriculture and natural resource leaders from across Kansas. Water + Energy Progress is a program directed by the Climate and Energy Project (CEP), a regional nonprofit focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

In October of 2012, CEP convened a steering committee to collaboratively identify standards for the awards which include: saves water, saves energy, presents affordable solutions that are replicable, scalable, and regionally appropriate, saves money, preserves or enhances soil health and water quality, and incorporates renewable energy. The standards also take into account impacts on wildlife and habitat, as well as leadership and collaboration by the producer. Governor Brownback presented the 2013 awards to nine producers who are featured on www.WaterAndEnergyProgress.org.

About The Climate + Energy Project

The Climate + Energy Project (CEP) is a non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Located in America’s Heartland, CEP collaborates with diverse partners across the nation to find practical solutions for a clean energy future that provides jobs, prosperity and energy security.

# # #

For more information about this topic please contact Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director of the Climate + Energy Project, by calling (785) 424-0444 or emailing barnett@climateandenergy.org.

2014 Tallgrass Range School

KGLC completed it's 2014 Tallgrass Range School on August 21 at Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale. Twenty-two students attended the event that began on Tuesday, August 19. The 3-day agenda covered a number of critical topics for grassland managers including plant identification, how to measure and monitor forage production using 4 different methods, determining stocking rates, and grasping the enormous importance of soil in managing your native grasslands.

Wednesday featured a day trip to the Koger Ranch near Cassoday and Matfield Green where students saw a control study on old world bluestem grass that has invaded much of our Kansas prairie. Dr. Walt Fick, Kansas State University Extension, described the multi-year study and what treatments were applied. Brian Obermeyer, The Nature Conservancy, hosted the group for the day and he talked about the patch-burn grazing program that Koger implemented back in the early 2000's, he showed the group a recent summer burn that was conducted to kill brush and reinvigorate a draw that was being encroached by cool season grasses.

Other stops on the ranch included entomology research by Shelly Wiggam, Kansas State University, showcasing her trapping and radio-collaring native bumble bee species to study their life cycles and habits. A wide group of insects known as pollinators are little understood and are facing threats from changes in the prairie system. their function is critical to the pollination and well-being of many native plants particularly forbs and some woody species. Attendees conducted their measuring and monitoring exercises on the ranch as well. Instructors for the School included David Kraft, NRCS state range management specialist; Doug Spencer and Dane Varney, NRCS area range management specialists; Chris Tecklenburg, NRCS range and soils specialist; Fick and Wiggam; Karen Willey, rancher and soils expert; Obermeyer; and KC Olson, Kansas State University Animal Science. Dates for the 2015 Tallgrass School are August 18-20.

Amazing Grazing events continue with a comprehensive workshop led by Mark Green focusing on livestock water and fencing development for cattle, sheep and goats.

Join Mark Green--a well-known and respected presenter and Missouri NRCS agent--on September 9 for "Livestock Water and Fencing Development."

Green will explain electric fence products, the pros and cons of various materials used in electric fence construction, and installation techniques.

He will also cover livestock watering topics, water distribution for improved grazing distribution, permanent and portable tanks, above and below ground pipeline, and water sources-wells, streams, springs, and ponds.

Fencing and watering needs for sheep and goats will also be included in the workshop.

Mid-/Shortgrass Range School 2014 Photos

Over 60 people attended portions of the 2014 Mid-/Shortgrass Range School during the 3-day event held August 5-7, at Camp Lakeside and The Nature Conservancy's Smoky Valley Ranch. The regular School had 30 attendees with the Wednesday SVR tour and steak fry upping the number to 60-plus. the evening was highlighted by a rancher panel featuring Bill Barby, John Wiley and Dwight Abell who talked about their ranching operations noting the challenges and opportunities they face today with an ever changing climate - economics, weather, and wildlife considerations.

A portion of the discussion included their experiences working on improving Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat as well as their feelings on how the Endangered Species Act listing the bird as "threatened" will impact their ranch operations. Jim Pitman, Small Game Coordinator and LPC leader for Kansas Department of WIldlife Parks and Tourism, provided input on the ESA listing and how agencies are working with ranchers to minimize the potential negative effects through voluntary planning. The Kansas Section of the Society for Range Management and the Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society participated in the Day's events (accounting for the increased numbers along with area ranchers).

The KGLC Tallgrass School begins Tuesday, August 19, at Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale.

According to Dr. Gerrish, "Sheep and goats offer opportunities for landowners as alternatives to raising cattle. Greater production efficiencies, niche market values, and ease of handling make sheep and goats particularly attractive for smaller acreages. Managing smaller ruminants does require a different skill set than cattle, and they require more attention to the details of management."

This workshop will cover topics including:

grazing practices for parasite management;

fence and stock water development for ease of grazing;

extending the grazing season;

selecting the optimal season for lambing/kidding

direct marketing

and more

Dr. Brian Faris, head of KSU Animal Science Department Sheep and Goats and the newly built small ruminant facility, will join the Manhattan small ruminant workshop. Faris was raised in Texas and will share a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sheep and goat industry. The workshop will include a tour of the new facility; where a hands-on workshop for producers to learn small animal health management techniques will be held later in the fall.

Rancher, Bill Barby, the Kansas Prescribed Fire Council and Clark County Conservation District will host a Prescribed Burn Field Day on Thursday, August 21, 2014 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 on Bill Barby's Clark Co. Ranch.

Meet on the east side of Highway
183, 9 miles south of Sitka, Kansas,
or 15 miles north of Buffalo, Oklahoma

(We will meet at this location and then caravan another 7 miles back
into the Barby Ranch to the demonstration site.)

FeaturedTopicsInclude:

Review prescribed
burning effects on the Barby Ranch

Discussions:

Ranch
Goals

Grazing
Management

Assistance
Programs

Prescribed
Burn Associations

REFRESHMENTSPROVIDED
BY

TheKansas Prescribed Fire Council

If you have Questions:Call Heather Grigsby(620-635-2822)orJess Crockford(620-664-4882)

Amazing Grazing kicks off its second year of programming
with a comprehensive, two-day workshop led by Dr. Jim Gerrish focusing on
year round and winter grazing for cattle.

Join Dr. Jim Gerrish--a well-known and respected rancher,
researcher and grazing educator who co-founded the Missouri Grazing
School--on August 13-14 for "Ranch Management for Successful Winter
and Year Round Grazing of Beef Cattle."

"Winter feed
costs are generally the biggest determinant of profitability in the
cow-calf business, but they don't have to be. This workshop will
get you well down the road to planning for and implementing year-round
grazing on your farm or ranch," says Jim.

Gerrish encourages ranchers to
"throw off the hay addiction shackles of iron and oil and feel the
freedom of grazing in the grass."
We will explore alternatives for extending the grazing season in
different environments, effectively grazing winter range and pasture, as
well as livestock selection and management to make sure the cows work for
you, rather than you working for your cows!SAVE $10 with Early Bird Registration!
Ends July 31!

Topics to be covered include: extending the grazing season,
managing and planning for successful winter grazing including nutritional
requirements, using winter annuals, effectively utilizing winter pastures
for animal performance, managing animal costs, and how calving date
effects profitability.
We encourage ranchers of all sizes to attend as you will learn valuable
grazing information and management skills that will improve production
and profitability of your livestock enterprise.

Please feel free to contact Mary if you have any questions
about the event or how to register.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever employees and chapters are pleased to announce their summer slate of upland habitat tours and workshops. Currently there are 15 workshops or tours planned around the state. These events will be hosted by Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists with the assistance of local area partners and statewide partners—Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

With events scheduled from May-July, there will be plenty of time for readers to pick sessions they would like to attend and, though all will relate to how habitat can be managed to benefit gamebirds and why it is neccessary, there will be topics tailored to a wide range of conservation and landowner interests. With sessions covering topics ranging from “Landscaping for Pollinators” (geared toward backyard conservationists and youth educators) to a cover crop tour and roundtable discussion with Kansas farmers, we’re sure that everyone can find a worthwhile workshop or series to attend. All the workshops are free and open to public, but some will require an RSVP because of space limitations or dinners being provided. Most of them will be half a day or shorter to accommodate our attendees’ busy summer schedules. Be on the lookout for more details locally, or for more information, check our website (www.kansaspfqf.com) or contact Senior Farm Bill Biologist, Zac Eddy, at (620) 338-7132 or zeddy@pheasantsforever.org. Be sure to inform Zac or the local hosts if you need any accommodations.

“Adapting Your Management to a Changing Climate is the theme for the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition (KGLC) summer range schools,” said Tim Christian, state coordinator for the group. “The Mid-/Shortgrass Range School runs from August 5-7 at Camp Lakeside, Lake Scott, and the Tallgrass Range School is set for August 19-21 at Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale.”

The climate in Kansas continues to change - the uncertain weather, uncertain markets and diminishing wildlife species and their habitat needs are among the tough challenges facing ranchers today. This situation calls for action - rethinking your management options and strategies, said Christian. The intent of the schools is to help inform decision-makers and provide them with sound grazing principles that they can take home and employ on their operations. Our cadre of instructors includes ranchers, agency, university and organizational staffs who provide hands-on instruction in the field as well as classroom presentation.

The 2014 registration fees are still a bargain at $300 per person. The fee covers course materials, on-site lodging and meals, and other related costs. Ranchers, landowners, and students may qualify for a $150 scholarship if they meet eligibility and request one using KGLC’s scholarship form. Agency staffs may qualify for $100 in scholarships. The form and more information on the Schools is available at www.kglc.org under 2014 Range Schools found in the navigation bar. Scholarship applications must be submitted by July 22 for the Mid-/Shortgrass School and August 5 for the Tallgrass School.

KGLC organized in 1991 as a non-profit educational organization and its vision is to regenerate Kansas grazing lands. This is achieved through the management, economics, ecology, production, and technical assistance programs provided by voluntary methods to reach landowners, ranchers, and others making decisions on grazing lands.

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalitionkansas.grazing.lands@gmail.comrangeschoolscoveradaptivemanagementprofitability2https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition/56283667706745018662014-03-24T17:51:13.524Z2014-03-24T17:52:25.964Z2014-03-24T17:52:24.688ZPrescribed Fire Season is Here! Watch a Great Video...

Brian Alexander, Alexander Ranch, Sun City, KS, put together a short video from a prescribed burn completed on March 19. Brian served as the first chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kansas Prescribed Fire Council in 2008. Nice job!

From the National Wildlife Federation - America’s iconic prairies continue to be one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, but key opportunities exist to protect and restore them, particularly through partnerships between ranchers, conservationists, and researchers, according to theProceedings of the 2nd Biennial Conference on the Conservation of America’s Grasslands,released today by the National Wildlife Federation and Kansas State University.

America’s Grasslands Conference: The Future of Grasslands in a Changing Landscapewas held in Manhattan, KS from August 12-14, 2013. To work together to conserve American grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them, the conference brought together around 225 biologists, policy experts, ranchers, federal and state agency staff, graduate students and conservationists.

The two-day conference included more than 80 speakers and poster presentations. The conference proceedingsprovide open access to a high quality source of information on 13 topics related to grassland conservation, includinggrazing and grasslands, grasslands and wildlife, landscape planning and management for grassland conservation, energy development, and federal policy.

"The future of grasslands is truly at stake," saidJohn Briggs, director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station, professor at Kansas State University and co-chair of the conference. "However, we have a unique opportunity to work with ranchers to conserve grasslands and to use scientific principles to better manage our existing grasslands."

One of the highlights of the conference was the emphasis on finding innovating ways to create economic and working land opportunities for grasslands and livestock producers. Conference presenters pointed to market drivers, carbon offsets, contract grazing, and federal policy tools as potential ways to help create economic incentives to keep grasslands in grazing.

"Grasslands provide habitat for wildlife, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, provide clean water benefits and help conserve healthy soil," saidAviva Glaser, agriculture policy specialist at the National Wildlife Federation and co-chair of the event. "We must continue to create economic incentives to help landowners to protect and restore our remaining grasslands"

Low Stress Cattle Handling Workshop rescheduled for April 12 in Salina, Low Stress Ranch Tour set for May 3 at Olsburg

McPHERSON, KS - The Salina workshop and Olsburg Ranch tour complete the grand finale of the Amazing Grazing Series of Educational Events. The rescheduled workshop will be offered April 12, 2014 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 1616 W. Crawford St. in Salina, KS. On May 3, two Olsburg ranches will highlight working facilities that utilize low stress methods to quietly and effectively process cattle, sheep, and goats.

People's interaction with livestock can have either a negative or positive impact on animal health, performance, and subsequent handling ease. Cattlexpressions Low Stress Cattle Handling Workshop will explain how to reduce stress on animals and their handlers during several critical points: cow-calf, back-grounding, stocker and feedlot operations.

Dr. Lynn Locatelli of Cattlexpressions is a student of renowned animal handling expert Bud Williams. Dr Locatelli began her veterinary career in Benkelman, Nebraska after graduating from UC Davis, and has 19 years of experience in both large animal veterinary practice and consultation. She educates many by private consultation and as a national and international speaker at veterinary seminars and cattleman's conferences. She resides in Watrous, New Mexico.

Registration begins at 8:30 with a welcome at 9:00 AM, followed by "Understanding Cattle Behavior in Order to Modify Our Behavior and Effectively Communicate with Cattle," then "Bud Williams Low Stress Cattle Handling Concepts and Techniques for Cattle Movement."

"Managing Cattle Movement During Grazing" takes the group into lunch, which is followed by "Cow-Calf Production Event Management and Calf-Formative Behavior," "Weaning, Acclimation and Transition Management, "Processing and Shipping Facilities Design, Trouble Shooting and Effective Use," and Wrap-Up, Questions, and Evaluations at 4:00 PM.

Everyone has a little different opinion about what low stress animal handling means. Plan to attend this Low Stress Cattle Handling session to learn cattle handling techniques that will improve cattle health, well being, performance, handler safety, and profitability in your operation. Registration for the day is $25.00 and can be done by going to www.kansasgraziers.blogspot.com, or by downloading a registration form and mailing it to the address given. For questions, or for folks with no email to register, please call Mary Howell at 785-562-8726.

Two Olsburg ranches will highlight working facilities, on May 3, that utilize low stress methods to quietly and effectively process cattle, sheep, and goats. The tour highlighting low stress handling will begin with registration at 9:30 A.M. at the Edwards Ranch, 15225 Dry Creek Road, Olsburg. The working facility designed by Bill, that he can operate alone, will be demonstrated starting at 10:00.

A catered, noon picnic lunch will be served at the Joseph Hubbard Barn, 5025 Highway 16, Olsburg. Joseph raises sheep and goats and has designed and will demonstrate the facility using Bud Williams philosophies for low stress, small animal handling.

Alan Hubbard is one of the first ranchers in Northeast Kansas to adopt Rotational Grazing (MiG, Management-intensive Grazing). Alan will present his lessons learned with cattle handling and grazing management. The tour will then resume to the low stress facilities designed to work in sync with livestock psychology and behavior to minimize stress and improve safety to both the animals and the rancher. The tour should conclude by 4:00 p.m.

Information is located at www.kansasgraziers.blogspot.com. Registration is $15.00, which includes lunch. Please register online or download a mail-in registration form. For questions, or for folks with no email to register, call Mary Howell at 785-562-8726.

This tour is the last "Amazing Grazing" Event sponsored with funding from North Central Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Partners include Kansas Farmers Union, Kansas SARE, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, Kansas Graziers, Kansas NRCS, and Kansas Grazing Land Coalition.

###

If you would like more information about the workshop or tour, please call Mary Howell at 785-562-8726 or email Mary at kfu.mary@gmail.com

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalitionkansas.grazing.lands@gmail.comlowstresscattlehandlingworkshoprescheduledforapril12insalinalowstressranchtoursetformay3atolsburg1https://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ksgrazinglandscoalition/48692674442935777562014-02-07T13:16:24.883Z2014-02-07T13:16:24.885Z2014-02-07T13:16:24.879ZKDHE Encourages Flint Hills Ranchers and Land Managers to check out the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, smoke modeling tool and the April burn restrictions associated with the plan

Flint
Hills Smoke Management

Mid-March
through the end of April is the time of the year when large areas of Kansas’
Flint Hills rangeland are burned. These burns are conducted to provide better
forage for cattle, and to help control invasive species such as Eastern Red
Cedar and Sumac. Well planned and managed periodic burns can minimize fire
safety danger and are an inexpensive tool for managing rangeland.

Drought,
for the last two burn seasons, has limited the number of acres in the Flint
Hills that have been burned. With the return of moisture last summer and fall,
there will be the opportunity for extensive burning in the Flint Hills this
spring. For burns to be conducted safely and effectively, weather and rangeland
conditions must be right. In years when these conditions are right, many
landowners conduct burns at the same time. If these burns take place when
meteorological conditions do not disperse the smoke, air pollutants from the
burns can affect persons in the Flint Hills and can be carried long distances
to more populated areas.

As
a result of the development of the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, KDHE and
Kansas State University created an informational website to inform ranchers and
land managers on smoke impacts. This website also includes a modeling tool that
those conducting burns may use to gain a better understanding of the impacts
their smoke may have on populated areas of the state. For more information
about the burning in the Flint Hills, the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan,
smoke modeling tool and the April burn restrictions associated with the plan, please
visit the following web site for more information: http://www.ksfire.org

The Kansas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a partner with KGLC, is advertising for a Ranch Rangeland Specialist located at their Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Application deadline is February 21, 2014. See the PDF below for more detailed information. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested.

MCPHERSON, KS-Due to poor current weather conditions and additional forecasted storms for later in the week, the Low-Stress Cattle Handling Workshop scheduled for Feb. 8 in Salina has been postponed.

Workshop organizer Mary Howell notes, "Kansas livestock producers are working diligently to keep their animals fed and cared for as a major winter storm shuts down the entire state and more hazardous weather is predicted for the weekend. We are working with Dr. Locatelli to reschedule the conference later this spring."

Howell went on to say, "We have great respect for the men and women in the livestock industry, we understand the needs of the animals come first, and we most importantly do not want to put anyone in harm's way during blizzard conditions. Watch for upcoming information as to the new date."

This workshop, part of the Amazing Grazing Series of Educational Events, will be offered February 8, 2014 at Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 1616 W. Crawford St. in Salina, KS. 785-823-1791.

People's interaction with livestock can have either a negative or positive impact on animal health, performance, and subsequent handling ease. Cattlexpressions Low Stress Cattle Handling Workshop will explain how to reduce stress on animals and their handlers during several critical points: cow-calf, backgrounding, stocker and feedlot operations.

Dr Lynn Locatelli of Cattlexpressions is a student of renowned animal handling expert Bud Williams. Dr Lynn began her veterinary career in Benkelman, Nebraska after graduating from UC Davis, and has 19 years of experience in both large animal veterinary practice and consultation. She educates many by private consultation and as a national and international speaker at veterinary seminars and cattleman's conferences. She resides in Watrous, New Mexico.